Tampa Bay political stories to watch in 2021
The St. Pete mayorâs race, the impact of redistricting and prominent local legislators facing term limits are stories that will factor in the coming year.
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Two prominent Democrats, city council member Darden Rice and former county Commissioner Ken Welch, are planning to run in St. Petersburg s mayor s race. [ Times (left) Pinellas County (right) ]
By William March
Updated Dec. 31, 2020
The coming year will be a non-election year, except for St. Petersburg city races, but will still see significant political action â some of it behind the scenes preparation for 2022. Some stories to watch:
St. Pete to have open-seat mayor, council races
A proposed ordinance eliminates extra credit for developers whose land includes protected wetlands
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Businesses and homes are pictured on State Road 674 in Wimauma in August. A proposal from Hillsborough Commission Chair Pat Kemp would reduce the number of future homes in the south county areas of Wimauma and Balm by eliminating a credit that allows developers greater housing densities if their property is at least 25 percent wetlands. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
Published Dec. 28, 2020
TAMPA â A Hillsborough County commissioner says an ongoing public policy debate calls to mind an old adage poking fun at individual gullibility.
âIâve got some swamp land in Florida to sell you,â says Commissioner Mariella Smith. âYou know, because swamp land is supposed to be undevelopable.â
$600 stimulus checks are a joke | Letters
Hereâs what readers are saying in Fridayâs letters to the editor.
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In this April 23, 2020, file photo, a stimulus check issued by the IRS to help combat the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, is displayed in San Antonio. [ ERIC GAY | AP ]
Published Dec. 28, 2020
Editorial, Dec. 22
Serve and protect us, huh?
$600 stimulus checks are a complete joke, especially since there was only one other check previously. Republicans need to get their head on right and recognize that this country is struggling. We should have had at least $600 checks every month this year. How is it that the Pentagon can spend $2 billion a day, and other countries have provided citizens with up to 80 percent of their salary for support, but this country canât find any sort of empathy for the situation that this administration has completely exacerbated to help us out more than $600?
Commissioners enacting new water restrictions for South Hillsborough on January 4
New water restrictions start in South Hillsborough on Jan 4
and last updated 2020-12-21 10:15:35-05
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. â Hillsborough leaders are issuing a warning, saying that new housing developments are going up faster than Tampa Bay Water can handle the demand in Southern Hillsborough County. Now, county commissioners have approved water restrictions for that area that start on January 4.
Commissioners say families are already feeling the effects of problems like low-water pressure during high-demand times. Now, commissioners say there is a constant threat of boil water notices, which happen when water pressure dips too low.